Josh.ai Launches First Natural Language Solution for Distributed AV
Josh.ai continues to expand the impact of artificial intelligence in the home by introducing non-scene based voice media switching. This means that integrators no longer need to pre-program specific media sources and content to specific destinations for voice commands. Josh.ai now natively understands different sources and destinations, which introduces flexibility to enable users to go from room to room and simply ask to turn on a favorite song or show.
For example, clients can walk into their theater and say, “OK Josh, watch Breaking Bad.” Josh.ai understands the request is coming from the theater, powers on the projector, utilizes a knowledge graph to determine Breaking Bad is on Netflix, routes the matrix switcher to select the appropriate media server as an input and sends to the proper output, switches to the appropriate audio source, and almost instantly Breaking Bad is on!
Keeping true to its commitment to intuitive user experiences, Josh.ai has completely redesigned the integrator setup flow for setting up AV systems. Josh.ai introduces a browser-based configuration workflow that auto-discovers audio and video devices on the network. The new interface has been designed with dealers in mind, allowing them to set up complicated distributed AV workflows quickly and without error.
“For a few years now, we have seen an increasing desire from our clients to interact with their technology, especially audio and video, in the most simplistic and personal way possible. Nothing is more intuitive than voice, and nobody is approaching voice the way that Alex and his team are with Josh.ai. I am so excited to be able to extend the possibility of voice control to our clientele and deliver beyond their expectations,” said Ben Lentz from Cyber Technology Group in Scottsdale, Arizona.
New device integrations and capabilities significantly improve the depth of the user experience. Josh.ai is doubling the amount of supported audio and video devices, bringing together industry-leading brands into one elegant ecosystem. With this release, Josh.ai is announcing support for Sony and Barco Projectors, Atlona matrix switchers, and Sony and LG televisions.
Below is a full list of Integrated Brands and Devices for AV:
○ Projectors: Sony, Barco
○ Televisions: Sony, LG, and IR for most other brands
○ Receivers: Sony, Integra, Onkyo, Pioneer, IR for most other brands
○ Audio: Sonos, Heos
○ Matrix Switchers: Atlona
○ IR Control: Global Cache
○ Audio Services: Tidal, Spotify, Apple Music, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Pandora. ○ Video Services: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube
Prior to offering distributed AV, Josh.ai served direct endpoint AV systems in single rooms, and could also be programmed with macros from other control systems to channel audio or video throughout various zones. “This new update is a big step forward in allowing us to deliver the most natural voice experience with an amazingly simple setup flow,” says Josh.ai CEO Alex Capecelatro. “It is one of the biggest features that our integrators have requested, and is something that further separates Josh.ai from the mass market solutions. We’re happy to be able to deliver on this vision.”
The new set up process not only enables Josh.ai to handle complex content distribution, but also sets the groundwork for deeper integration with control system partners, including direct AV compatibility with Crestron, Control4, and Savant.
“We’re excited to partner with some of the most prominent brands and partners to offer advanced voice control over distributed content,” said Capecelatro. “This is an incredibly important feature for our luxury clients who want the power of distributed systems, with the simplicity of being able to ask for any music or video content in a room and have it play instantly. Our goal with Josh.ai is to deliver a magical experience to the user, and the hard work from our engineering team gets us closer to that vision.”
“The integrated Josh.ai and Atlona solution delivers the magical experience of voice control for luxury AV systems that to this point has been a challenge to attain,” said Joshua Castro, product manager, Atlona. “While this integration clearly addresses the trends we see today in distributed whole-home AV, we also see plenty of value for restaurants, hotels and offices, among other businesses, that want seamless voice-controlled switching and distribution to channel the right AV sources to the right destinations.”
Josh.ai is an artificial intelligence agent for your home. If you’re interested in learning more, visit us at https://josh.ai.
